Bloomingtails Leaves Pets Pawsitively Polished

INTERVIEW WITH

Miroslava Ferrer

Miroslava “Miros” Ferrer first realized the importance of good pet grooming when her English Bulldog came back filthy from a walk in a New York City park. She enrolled in the American Academy of Pet Grooming and has since spent more than 10 years grooming your furry best friends. We spoke with Ferrer, who has owned Bloomingtails since 2022, and discussed some of the dos and don’ts of keeping your pet looking his or her best.

How does the grooming process work at Bloomingtails? 

It depends if your pet is new to Bloomingtails or has been here before. If new, when you arrive at the salon with your pet, the groomer will meet you to discuss desired hairstyle, any issues the pet might have, what kind of shampoo to use, and more. If you’re an existing client, we’ll refer to the detailed notes we keep about each pet. Upon arrival, staff will ask if you need to speak to the groomer and if you would like the same service as last time. What happens next depends on those answers, but, typically, we’ll give your pet a bath, blow dry, and haircut. After the groomer is done, we send a text indicating that your pet is ready for pick up. 

Where do pets wait for their owners to pick them up after grooming?

We usually ask for a window of two to three hours for each appointment. The pet does wait in a crate for pick up, but if the pet parent does not want this, we do accommodate. However, if you don’t want your pet crated, we ask that you please pick up your pet no more than 30 minutes after you receive a text that he or she is ready. 

How do you create a calm, positive environment for grooming?

Pets’ personalities and needs are unique, and we treat them accordingly. We usually ask pet parents to bring them in to meet and get comfortable with us, so they don’t associate us only with grooming. I have found this to be a very successful method.  

Any tips for making the grooming process easier for your pet?

We suggest owners start introducing the grooming process when their pet is as young as possible. We deal with a lot of recue pets that need that extra attention and love, though. We work hard to get pets to trust us, so they feel confident and comfortable.

Any tips for pet owners dealing with pets that don’t like to be groomed? Things “to do” or not “to do”?

When a pet does not like to get groomed, I always suggest bringing them in more often and trying not to do any haircuts at home. Many times, pet parents think that holding a pair of scissors is easy. But then they try to cut matted fur and end up cutting their pet’s skin. Now the pet has to go to the veterinarian, and that’s a whole other issue. My professional groomers and I take our careers very seriously and are constantly educating ourselves, so we know how to best handle difficult situations. My best advice is to tell us the truth about your pet’s issue, so we will be able to properly assess the situation.  

Do you have any favorite stories from your years of grooming pets?

About three years ago, a new client came to me after visiting three different groomers in the area. She rescued her pet from Puerto Rico, and previous groomers had told her that the pet was just too difficult. After speaking to her for 20 minutes, a light bulb went off for me when she told me her pet was still not comfortable at home. I started to speak Spanish to the pet, and he came to me with no issues! There was a language barrier. All we needed was a “Hola mi amor lindo!” Needless to say, the family had to learn a bit of Spanish. 

Let’s say your dog rolls around outside, is muddy and has something in its fur. How should a pet owner handle this?

If your pet gets dirty or muddy, a nice shower will definitely do the trick. Just make sure to dry your pet well, otherwise a wet animal smell will linger in your house for a few days. 

What are common grooming mistakes that you see from pet owners? 

Nail trimming at home can be a challenge. If you cut the nail the wrong way, it can cause your pet pain, creating a negative association and fear that make nail trimming progressively more difficult over time. With our professional equipment and experience, we can set your pet up for success.

As it gets warmer, should you shave your dog’s fur to keep them cool? Particularly if they have a thick or double coat? 

Never shave a dog with a double coat! Double-coated dogs need their undercoat in all seasons. I have lost customers who have asked me to shave their Husky because it sheds a lot and their house is full of hair. I won’t do it, though. Shaving can damage these dog’s natural insulation. You just need to brush more—brush, brush, brush, and brush. Nothing else. 

Bloomingtails is located at 985 Mount Kemble Ave., Morristown. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit bloomingtails.us.